Our cars are almost like members of our families. They do more than just take us from point A to point B. They are places where we spend time with loved ones, travelling on vacations, eating meals, listening to music, and even watching films (in the backseat or at the drive-in, hopefully). And just as you take care of your own body, you should take care of your car’s body too.
Prevention is always better, easier, and more cost effective that waiting for illness and then looking for the cure, so here are a few resolutions you might make to extend the life of your car and make yourself a more responsible owner.
- Read your car’s owner’s manual and become familiar with the basic structure of your specific make and model and where things are located. This will also let you know how often you should check on what.
- Make sure everything works. Make sure all your lights are in working order, including headlights and taillights, turning signal lights, and brake lights. Also check that the interior overhead lights work. Look at your windshield wipers. If they are warped or cracked, get new ones. Check your oil and oil filter. This should be done once every 3,000 or 4,000 miles. Check all the other car’s fluids: antifreeze, brakes, power steering, transaxle, transmission, and windshield wiper fluids. Check your air filter. Make a checklist that leaves no stone unturned and get your car in tip top shape for the New Year.
- Use less fuel. You don’t need to buy a new car to save money on gas. Try to drive more smoothly and less aggressively. Speed up and slow down as gradually as you can, and plan routes according to how efficient they are. Make a resolution to stop idling when it’s not necessary, even when warming your car up in the morning. Finally, check your tire pressure to make sure tires are filled to an ideal, fuel efficient level.
- Keep it clean. A dirty car doesn’t just look bad (and sometimes smell even worse). Dirt, grime, and sand can wear down upholstery and other surfaces in the interior of a car. Similarly, salt and rust can damage the exterior, eroding the paint job or wearing away at the underside. Have your car washed regularly and consider applying a protectant on occasion.
- Take care of problems right away. Don’t just assume that the strange noise will go away over time. Taking care of issues before they get worse is even more critical than preventative maintenance. A small repair can quickly snowball into a disastrous, financially crippling catastrophe.
Of course, the most important resolution you can make is to have your car checked by a professionally trained mechanic regularly. If you’re in the Lancaster, California area, consider working with the team at AV Bumper to Bumper to get your car off to a great start in 2014.
